Toothbrush having replaceable brush heads

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush having replaceable brush heads includes a plurality of brush heads including a pad provided on both lateral sides thereof with mounting protrusions, and a plurality of brush hairs provided on a top surface of the pad, and a brush handle body integrally extending from the brush head, including a mounting head part formed at a front end thereof to fixedly mount the pad of the brush head thereon, and a gripping rod having a receiving space part open or closed by a cap to receive the brush heads into an opposite side to the mounting head part, thereby easily storing the brush heads without the movement, securely and fixedly mounting the brush heads without the separation from the toothbrush even in the brushing of teeth, and simply replacing the brush head with new one according to occasions and using the brush head.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0035049, filed on Mar. 24, 2016, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toothbrush having replaceable brush heads. More specifically, the present invention relates to a toothbrush capable of easily storing a plurality of brush heads without the movement, and securely and fixedly mounting the brush heads without the separation from the toothbrush when a user brushes the teeth of the user, and enabling the user to simply replace the brush head with new one according to occasions.

2. Description of the Related Art

For old times, teeth are one of five blessings in a human life. One of the most important elements to manage the teeth is to brush the teeth.

The brushing of teeth is an action of a user to brush the teeth of the user with a toothbrush having toothpaste applied thereto. Generally, in the state that the toothbrush and a tube having toothpaste therein are separately provided, the user squeezes the tube of the toothpaste, applies the toothpaste to the toothbrush, and then brushes the teeth of the user.

Typically, a toothbrush includes a brush head having brush hairs, and a brush rod integrally extending from the brush head so that the user brushes the teeth while holding the brush rod.

In the case of the toothbrush, as a predetermined time elapses, the brush hairs of the toothbrush are spread or abraded, so that the user may not effectively brush the teeth with the toothbrush. Accordingly, the user must replace the entire portion of the toothbrush with new one, which may be not economical.

In order to solve the problems, Korea Patent Registration No. 10-0966828 (cited reference 1) discloses a toothbrush having a structure of replacing a brush head, in which a tooth hair assembly bar of a replaceable toothbrush member is pushed and simply coupled by a lock claw, and a key ring is pushed toward the lock claw by a button part in replacement to unlock the tooth hair assembly bar from the lock claw, so that the replaceable toothbrush member is separated from a handle of the toothbrush.

In addition, Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1217895 (cited reference 2) discloses a toothbrush having replaceable brush hairs, in which any one of brush hairs, a brush to remove foreign matters (tartar), and a blade to remove foreign matters (a coating on the tongue) is securely mounted in a head while rotating. When a user brushes teeth or removes the tartar from the teeth, the brush hairs, the brush, or the blade is not separated from the head, so that marketability as well the convenience of use can be improved. In addition, since the brush hair, the brush, or the blade can be easily separated from the head by rotating, the brush hair, the brush, or the blade can be simply replaced with new one, so that the user may feel convenient.

Further, Korean Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 20-2013-0007199 (cited reference 3) discloses a toothbrush having replaceable brush hairs configured to screw-couple the brush hairs to a body and facilitate the use of toothpaste. When the toothbrush is carried or stored, the brush hairs are configured to be inserted into the body. Accordingly, the brush hairs can be easily replaced, so that resource waste and environmental pollution can be reduced, costs can be economically saved, and the brush hairs can be prevented from being contaminated from the external environment. In addition, the toothpaste can be carried, stored, and used together with the toothbrush.

In addition, Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-2014-0148155 (cited reference 4) disclosing a toothbrush having replaceable brush hairs, in which a brush-head rail part having the shape of a trapezoidal groove is slidably coupled to a coupling part having the shape of a trapezoidal protrusion, so that a brush head can be simply and securely coupled to brush hairs.

However, according to the cited reference 1, as the toothbrush has a complex structure, the manufacturing cost may be increased. In addition, according to the cited reference 1, a user may not only feel inconvenient in use, but also must replace the entire portion of the toothbrush including brush hairs, so that loss may be greatly caused in an economical aspect. According to the cited reference 2, although the toothbrush has a simpler structure, the storage of the toothbrush is cumbersome and inconvenient. In addition, when toothpaste sticks to a coupling part, the toothpaste may not be easily separated from the coupling part.

According to the cited reference 3, since the entire portion of the first head having the size corresponding to that of the body must be replaced with new one, loss may be great in the economical aspect.

According to the cited reference 4, when a user brushes teeth in the state that the brush hairs are coupled to the brush head, the brush hairs may be easily separated from the brush head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush having replaceable brush heads, capable of easily storing a plurality of brush heads without the movement of the brush heads, of securely and fixedly mounting the brush heads without the separation from the toothbrush when a user brushes teeth, and enabling the user to simply replace the brush head with new one according to occasions. Another object of the present invention is to provide brush heads which can be tightly and closely fixed when the brush heads are fixedly mounted.

In order to accomplish the above objects of the present invention, there is provided a toothbrush having replaceable brush heads. The toothbrush includes a plurality of brush heads including a pad provided on both lateral sides thereof with mounting protrusions, and a plurality of brush hairs provided on a top surface of the pad, and a brush handle body including a mounting head part formed at a front end thereof with a mounting head part to fixedly mount the pad of the brush head thereon, and a gripping rod having a receiving space part open or closed by a cap to receive the brush heads into an opposite side to the mounting head part.

The mounting head part includes a mounting groove having a front surface open to mount the pad of the brush head, and insertion grooves formed in both lateral sides of the mounting groove. The mounting protrusions are inserted into the insertion grooves.

The mounting groove is provided in a rear surface thereof with a support groove such that an end portion of the pad of the brush head is inserted into the support groove and prevented from being tilted.

Mutually contact parts between the pad and the support groove have surfaces curved in shapes corresponding to each other.

The receiving space part is provided on both inner lateral sides thereof with support protrusions to latch and support an upper end portion of the pad of the brush head to prevent the brush head, which has been received in the receiving space part, from moving.

According to the present invention, a plurality of brush heads can be easily stored without the movement thereof, securely and fixedly mounted without the separation from the toothbrush when a user brushes teeth, and simply replaced with new one according to occasions. Accordingly, the brush head can be rapidly replaced without the cumbersome and the inconvenient within a shorter time of period. Accordingly, the user can feel convenient in the use of the toothbrush and an excellent economical effect can be produced.

In addition, when the brush head is fixedly mounted, the brush heads can be tightly and closely fixed. Accordingly, the user can effectively brush the teeth with the toothbrush.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a toothbrush having replaceable brush heads according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the coupling state of the toothbrush of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view to explain the use state of the toothbrush of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a toothbrush having replaceable brush heads according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the coupling state of the toothbrush of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a sectional view to explain the use state of the toothbrush of FIG. 1.

The present invention suggests the toothbrush having the replaceable brush heads, in which the brush head can be replaced with new one and used, by taking into consideration effectiveness, and an economical effect in the brushing of teeth.

According to the present invention, a plurality of brush heads can be easily stored without the movement thereof, securely and fixedly mounted without the separation from the toothbrush when a user brushes teeth, and simply replaced with new one according to occasions.

A toothbrush 1 having replaceable brush heads according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of brush heads 10 and a brush handle body 20. Each brush head includes a pad 12 and a plurality of brush hairs 15. The pad 12 is provided on both lateral sides thereof with mounting protrusions 14. The brush hairs 15 are provided on a top surface of the pad 12. The brush handle body 20 is provided at a front end thereof with a mounting head part 22. The pad 12 of the brush head 10 is fixedly mounted on the mounting head part 22. The brush handle body 20 includes a gripping rod 26. The gripping rod 26 is formed therein with a receiving space part 25. The receiving space part 25 is open or closed by a cap 24 to receive the brush heads 10 into an opposite side to the mounting head part 22. A part between the mounting head part 22 and the gripping rod 26 has a width narrower than that of the brush head 10. Accordingly, the foreign body sensation is minimized in the brushing of teeth.

The brushing of teeth using the toothbrush 1 is performed by mounting the mounting head part 22 of the brush handle body 20 around the pad 12 of the brush heads 10 and then applying toothpaste to the brush hairs 15. If the toothbrush 1 is continuously used to brush the teeth for a predetermined period and thus the brush hairs 15 are abraded or spread, the brush head 10 is separated from the mounting head part 22, and another brush head 10 is withdrawn from the receiving space part 2 of the gripping rod 26 and mounted on the mounting head part 22. Accordingly, the user can easily and rapidly replace the brush head 10 with new one without cumbersome and inconvenient for the use of the new brush head.

In other words, if the brush hairs 15 are abraded or spread, the entire portion of the toothbrush 1 is not replaced, but only the brush head 10 is separated from the mounting head part 22 of the brush handle body 20 and replaced with new one. Accordingly, an excellent economical effect can be produced.

Further, since the brush head 10 mounted on the mounting head part 22 can be simply and rapidly replaced with new one without cumbersome and inconvenient, the user may more conveniently use the toothbrush 1.

The mounting head part 22 has a mounting groove 22 a and an insertion groove 22 b. The mounting groove 22 a is formed in size corresponding to that of the pad 12 in order to mount the pad 12 of the brush heads 10. The front surface of the mounting groove 22 a is open to facilitate the mounting of the brush heads 10. Insertion grooves 22 b are formed in both lateral sides of the mounting groove 22 a. The mounting protrusion 14 is inserted into each insertion groove 22 b.

After inserting an end portion of the pad 12 of the brush head 10 into the mounting groove 22 a, the mounting protrusions 14 formed on both lateral sides of the pad 12 are inserted into the insertion grooves 22 b formed in the both lateral sides of the mounting head part 22. Accordingly, the brush head 10 can be simply and conveniently mounted.

Furthermore, the end portion of the pad 12 makes contact with an inner lateral side of the mounting groove 22 a and supported by the inner lateral side of the mounting groove 22 a. In this state, the mounting protrusions 14 formed on both lateral sides of the pad 12 are inserted into the insertion grooves 22 b and supported by the insertion grooves 22 b. Accordingly, the brush head 10 can be securely and fixedly mounted in the mounting groove 22 a without the separation from the mounting groove 22 a even in the brushing of the teeth.

When the user intends to separate the brush head 10 from the mounting groove 22 a, the user holds the brush head 10 and separates the mounting protrusions 24 from the insertion grooves 22 b. Then, the user moves the brush head 10 out of the mounting groove 22 a, so that the brush head 10 can be simply and rapidly separated from the mounting head part 22 without cumbersome and inconvenient.

The mounting groove 22 a is provided in a rear surface thereof with a support groove 22 a ′ so that an end portion of the pad 12 of the brush head 10 is inserted into the support groove 22 a ′ and prevented from being tilted. The mutually contact parts between the pad 12 and the support groove 22 a ′ have surfaces curved in shapes corresponding to each other.

If the rear surface of the mounting groove 22 a is a vertically flat surface, the pad 12 of the brush head 10 may be separated from or deviated from the mounting groove 22 a when the user brushes the teeth by fixing the brush head 10 to the mounting groove 22 a. The present invention provides a structure that the fitting may be achieved between mutually contact parts to fundamentally prevent the separation or the deviation.

In other words, the end portion of the pad 12 is inserted into the support groove 22 a ′ in the rear surface of the mounting groove 22 a and having the curved surface corresponding to the end portion of the pad 12 in shape. In this state, the pad 12 of the brush head 10 can be fundamentally prevented from being separated from or deviating from the mounting groove 22 a . Accordingly, the brushing of the teeth may be more stably and efficiently performed.

Meanwhile, the present invention provides a technical configuration of preventing the brush head 10, which has been received in the receiving space part 25 of the body 20, from moving in the receiving space part 25 in the brushing of the teeth.

That is to say, the receiving space part 25 is provided on both inner lateral sides thereof with support protrusions 25 a to latch and support an upper end portion of the pad 12 of the brush head 10 in order to prevent the brush head 10, which has been received in the receiving space part 25, from moving.

When the brush head 10 is inserted into the receiving space part 25, the brush head 10 is slidably inserted into the receiving space 25 in the state that the upper end of the pad 12 is latched by the support protrusions 25 a formed on the both inner lateral sides of the receiving space part 25. Accordingly, the brush head 10 inserted into the receiving space part 25 is supported without the movement within the receiving space part 10 in the brushing of the teeth.

The plurality of brush heads 10 received in the receiving space part 10 are maintained in the received state without the movement in the brushing of teeth, so that a user can more stably and conveniently use the toothbrush.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. A toothbrush comprising: a plurality of replaceable brush heads, each brush head comprising a pad provided on both lateral sides thereof with mounting protrusions, and a plurality of brush hairs provided on a top surface of the pad; and a brush handle body comprising a mounting head part formed at a front end thereof to fixedly mount the pad of the brush head thereon, and a gripping rod having a receiving space part open or closed by a cap to receive one or more of the brush heads into an opposite side to the mounting head part wherein the mounting head part comprises a mounting groove having a front surface open to mount the pad of the brush head, and insertion grooves formed in both lateral sides of the mounting groove, the mounting protrusions being inserted into the insertion grooves.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the mounting groove is provided in a rear surface thereof with a support groove such that an end portion of the pad of the brush head is inserted into the support groove and prevented from being tilted.
 4. The toothbrush of claim 3, wherein mutually contact parts between the pad and the support groove have surfaces curved in shapes corresponding to each other.
 5. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the receiving space part is provided on both inner lateral sides thereof with support protrusions to latch and support an upper end portion of the pad of the brush head to prevent the brush head, which has been received in the receiving space part, from moving.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the receiving space part is provided on both inner lateral sides thereof with support protrusions to latch and support an upper end portion of the pad of the brush head to prevent the brush head, which has been received in the receiving space part, from moving.
 8. The toothbrush of claim 4, wherein the receiving space part is provided on both inner lateral sides thereof with support protrusions to latch and support an upper end portion of the pad of the brush head to prevent the brush head, which has been received in the receiving space part, from moving. 